WHEREAS, The people of the former Republic of Vietnam were valiant in their resistance to the aggression of communist North Vietnam; and
     WHEREAS, Over 3.4 million American servicemen and women served in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War, of which 303,000 were wounded and over 58,000 made the ultimate sacrifice in the defense of freedom for the Vietnamese people; and
     WHEREAS, The end of the Vietnam conflict produced an exodus of over two million Vietnamese who sought political asylum in the free world and bravely risked their lives to live under the prosperity of democracy; and
     WHEREAS, Many of these refugees settled in Washington State, and over 100,000 Vietnamese Americans and residents of Vietnamese descent, live in and have a long history of contributing to the business, economic development, and community of our state; and
     WHEREAS, The current government of Vietnam continues to harass, interrogate, and arrest individuals advocating democracy; and
     WHEREAS, Many officers and enlisted personnel of the former Republic of Vietnam were imprisoned as enemies of the state, as were intellectuals, teachers, and artists; and
     WHEREAS, The flag of the free Vietnamese people consists of three horizontal stripes of red upon a field of gold, and this flag is an eternal symbol of the hope and love of freedom for all people of Vietnamese descent, just as the American flag symbolizes these virtues for citizens across America; and
     WHEREAS, Dating back to 1948, this flag has a long history in Vietnam and is a broader symbol of resilience, freedom, and democracy of and for the Vietnamese American Community; and
     WHEREAS, This flag remains a poignant reminder of the threat of communism and the imperative of remaining vigilant in opposition to tyranny of all forms, and to actively support human rights;
     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Washington recognize the contributions of the Vietnamese American Community to the business, economic development, and community of Washington; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Senate honor the gold flag with three red stripes as the flag of the Vietnamese American Community in Washington; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Secretary of the Senate shall immediately transmit copies of this resolution to the recognized leaders of the Vietnamese Community in Washington.